THE RELATION OF MOLECULAR CONFIGURATION TO INACTIVATION OF SYMPATHOMIMETIC AMINES IN THE PRESENCE OF PHENOL OXIDASE

¹ From the Department of Physiology, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison

In terms of the physical aspects of the enzymatic oxidative reactions which took place we have attempted to interpret the following observations.

1. Phenolase was capable of initiating the oxidation of only p-phenolic sympathomimetic amines as contrasted with m and o homologs which were not oxidized in its presence.

2. p-phenolic sympathomimetic amines having (a) a tertiary amino group or (b) an hydroxyl group on the carbon atom adjacent to the ring were less rapidly oxidized than the p-hydroxyphenylethylamine homologs, in the order given.

3. Where a ketone group existed on a carbon atom of the side chain alpha to the ring the p-phenolic nucleus did not undergo oxidation.

4. The o-dihydroxy phenolic compounds were oxidized as a unimolecular reaction and at a rate dependent on the concentration of substrate in solution at a given time.